Category Archives: Opposition Fans’ Thoughts

I headed over to the Oatcake Fanzine forum and asked the questions which got a good response. The questions were:

1 – Where do you think you’ll finish this season? What about Newcastle?
2 – Is Shawcross consistent enough to play for England?
3 – How much has your style changed under Mark Hughes?
4 – What are your views on Charlie Adam? Does he deserve the reputation he has for poor discipline?
5 – If you could have one football player, past or present, live in your spare room who would it be and why?
6 – Could Begovic make it at a top 4 club? Do you fear losing him? Or will he be at the club for a while yet?
7 – If your club was a biscuit, what biscuit would it be? And why would it be that biscuit?
8 – How big a loss in Bojan to your aspirations for the season? Do you think he’ll still be at Stoke next season?
9 – Have Newcastle made a mistake by waiting until the summer to appoint a permanent manager?
10 – Scoreline prediction?

stokiemarc

1 – Where do you think you’ll finish this season? What about Newcastle?
Us 8th
You 10th

2 – Is Shawcross consistent enough to play for England?
Yes, played so many games in the premier league now, you never see him highlighted for a mistake on MOTD because he rarely makes them. There were always concerns about his distribution but Hughes has transformed him to a defender who is comfortable on the ball. One moment of magic from one of the world’s best players (Ibra) has ended his England career before it had chance to start.

3 – How much has your style changed under Mark Hughes?
Lots, attacking full backs, players with free-er roles, much more accomplished going forward. We have pace, this is the major difference, we are dangerous on the counter attack and that’s mainly why we are doing so well away from home.

The negative difference is that we are no longer as strong at the back and we concede more goals than we used to, but that’s due to fullbacks previously not really getting forward and an emphasis on defending. You can’t really become a better attacking force without losing some of your defensive prowess, so it’s understandable.

4 – What are your views on Charlie Adam? Does he deserve the reputation he has for poor discipline?
I think so, he is a red card waiting to happen. Our system doesn’t really suit him now and he is reduced to a role of substitute getting a few minutes here and there. He probably needs to move on in the summer.

5 – If you could have one football player, past or present, live in your spare room who would it be and why?
Stoke player: Ricardo Fuller,think it’d never get boring and he’d be great at house parties.
Non Stoke player: Eric Cantona: eccentric character and martial arts expert.

6 – Could Begovic make it at a top 4 club? Do you fear losing him? Or will he be at the club for a while yet?
He can make it, bit unfortunate for him that the top 4 have bought keepers recently so he’s gone off the radar there a bit but he is continually linked Real Madrid so I think the time will come when he’ll move on, and as long as it’s not a sideways move to somewhere like Liverpool, he’ll go with most supporter’s blessing.

7 – If your club was a biscuit, what biscuit would it be? And why would it be that biscuit?
Bourbon Cream because they are my favourite and the best biscuits.

8 – How big a loss in Bojan to your aspirations for the season? Do you think he’ll still be at Stoke next season?
Huge loss but we have the depth to cope. He won’t be going anywhere, he’s on a 4 year contract so it would cost somebody silly money to buy him. Plus, he seems to be very happy here.

9 – Have Newcastle made a mistake by waiting until the summer to appoint a permanent manager?
Probably not, they won’t be in any danger and there will be a better range of candidates in the summer eg De Boer who would prefer to start the job at that time. Does maybe give the fans the impression of a lack of ambition for this season though?

I went over to the Not 606 Hull board to ask the questions. I accidentally asked one question twice and I’m making this thread on a tablet so it won’t be great. The questions this week were:

1 – Where do you think you’ll finish this season? What about Newcastle?
2 – What are your thoughts on Ben Arfa and his time at Hull?
3 – Where do Hull need to strengthen before the deadline?
4 – Are you worried about relegation? What has gone wrong?
5 – If you could have one football player, past or present, live in your spare room who would it be and why?
6 – Do you need to do any business in January? If so, who would you like to sign?
7 – If your club was a biscuit, what biscuit would it be? And why would it be that biscuit?
8 – Is Steve Bruce still the correct man for the job?
9 – Have Newcastle made a mistake by waiting until the summer to appoint a permanent manager?
10 – Scoreline prediction?

Happy Tiger

1 – Where do you think you’ll finish this season? What about Newcastle?
Us 11th, you hard to say tbh at the mo, 15 to 9

2 – What are your thoughts on Ben Arfa and his time at Hull?
Pardew was right. 100%. Gifted player, but not as good as he thinks he is, also ****ing lazy. Too much of a passenger in any team.

3 – Where do Hull need to strengthen before the deadline?
Striker or attacking midfielder wouldn’t hurt but our squad is good enough for us, it just needs to be fitter and less injured

4 – Are you worried about relegation? What has gone wrong?
Not worried in the slightest. Injuries have devastated us.

5 – If you could have one football player, past or present, live in your spare room who would it be and why?
Deano. Be a laugh.

6 – Do you need to do any business in January? If so, who would you like to sign?
Lennon would be nice, but, I’m quite relaxed about this window.

7 – If your club was a biscuit, what biscuit would it be? And why would it be that biscuit?
Jaffa Cake. Amber centre, causes arguments over whether its a biscuit or a cake, but the bottom line is, who cares, still tastes fab and gives me pleasure.

8 – Is Steve Bruce still the correct man for the job?
Yes. He’s a great manager, lovely fella and I like him

9 – Have Newcastle made a mistake by waiting until the summer to appoint a permanent manager?
Possibly yes. Hard to understand your owners thinking some times. Certainly gives the impression of being more interested in Rangers than you.

I went back to the new look Not606 forum to post on the Southampton board and the response was good. The questions were:

1 – Where do you think you’ll finish this season? What about Newcastle?
2 – When you get into Europe will it be a one off or is it part of the clubs ambition to cement itself as a European regular?
3 – Are you confident of getting into the top four?
4 – Clyne and Bertrand have both impressed at full back. How confident are you of keeping Clyne after this season, and of signing Bertrand on a permanent deal?
5 – If you could have one football player, past or present, live in your spare room who would it be and why?
6 – Do you need to do any business in January? If so, who would you like to sign?
7 – If your club was a biscuit, what biscuit would it be? And why would it be that biscuit?
8 – Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama are arguably the most important players in your side, how big a miss will they be on Saturday? And who can replace them?
9 – What are your thoughts on Newcastle United as an outsider?
10 – Scoreline prediction?

I Sorry I Ruined The Party

1 – Where do you think you’ll finish this season? What about Newcastle?
Us: Between 3-8. Newcastle: 10-15. Probably much closer to 10.

2 – When you get into Europe will it be a one off or is it part of the clubs ambition to cement itself as a European regular?
It’s definitely the club’s ambition to cement itself as a European regular. Whether it will be a one off or not remains to be seen. I like the management at the club but the playing field isn’t exactly level, it’s very hard to break that glass ceiling.

3 – Are you confident of getting into the top four?
Not confident, no. But I think it is a very realistic possibility.

4 – Clyne and Bertrand have both impressed at full back. How confident are you of keeping Clyne after this season, and of signing Bertrand on a permanent deal?
I like the odds for each individual player…. say a 60-75% chance. So I think we have a high probability of keeping one or the other. Keeping both is a coin flip.

5 – If you could have one football player, past or present, live in your spare room who would it be and why?
Andrew Surman. He seems like a nice guy who would keep his room neat and not kick up too much of a fuss.

6 – Do you need to do any business in January? If so, who would you like to sign?
We have some injury issues so a loan or good signing wouldn’t go amiss. But I also wouldn’t want to pay over-the-odds to bring someone in. We’re okay. I’d like to see us sign Ings, but maybe that can be done when he is available on a free.

7 – If your club was a biscuit, what biscuit would it be? And why would it be that biscuit?
What I call a biscuit is vastly different than what English/European people think of as a biscuit so I can’t answer this.

8 – Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama are arguably the most important players in your side, how big a miss will they be on Saturday? And who can replace them?
Wanyama to me is a bigger loss than Schneiderlin just because of Wanyama’s physical presence. Cork is a solid player, however. I’ve been impressed with Reed as well. Either of them should theoretically be able to step in and do the job against NUFC. It’s the cumulative loss of Schneiderlin AND Wanyama and Alderwield and Mane and Yoshida that hurts.

9 – What are your thoughts on Newcastle United as an outsider?
I think Pardew is a great manager, but also a complete douche. It’s kind of hard to figure how those two factors balance out and then what to expect now that he has left. The team talent is decent enough, but no great shakes. Not much reason to worry, but also not that much to be optimistic about for the future bar some extremely astute transfers.

10 – Scoreline prediction?
Newcastle 0-1 Saints. I think that Saints will look the better side, but with all the subs a lack of team familiarity will lead to some inefficient play. Newcastle will play tough, better than many might expect. But in the end Saints will tuck one away and the defense is solid enough to make that goal count.

I went back to The Shed End forum to ask the questions and the response was as good as it always is. The questions were:

1 – Where do you think you’ll finish this season? What about Newcastle?
2 – Is there anything in these Messi to Chelsea rumours or do you think he’s just flexing his muscles because the Barca board are still yet to fulfill his request of sacking the manager?
3 – Are you confident of winning the league? How many trophies can you win this year?
4 – How good to you think Eden Hazard can be/is?
5 – If you could have one football player, past or present, live in your spare room who would it be and why?
6 – Do you need to do any business in January? If so, who would you like to sign?
7 – If your club was a biscuit, what biscuit would it be? And why would it be that biscuit?
8 – Should Loic Remy get a bigger role in your side considering his impact when he has played?
9 – What are your thoughts on Newcastle United as an outsider?
10 – Scoreline prediction?

Bucks Blue

1 – Where do you think you’ll finish this season? What about Newcastle?
Hopefully top of the pile! We have the easier fixtures but City are a great side so will make it tough. Possibly a midtable finish of 11th with a new manager. If you make some good signings etc then next season could be a good one for you.

2 – Is there anything in these Messi to Chelsea rumours or do you think he’s just flexing his muscles because the Barca board are still yet to fulfil his request of sacking the manager?
I think it would be interesting were we to activate his release clause but at the end of the day I don’t think we will and he’ll stay at Barca.

3 – Are you confident of winning the league? How many trophies can you win this year?
Yes due to our fixture list. We only have to go to Arsenal of the bigger sides. I reckon 2. The League and the Capital One Cup. Would love the FA Cup too but not too sure and with the Champions League Real Madrid will take some stopping!

4 – How good to you think Eden Hazard can be/is?
One of the best players in the world. I’d rather have him for the rest of his career with us than sign Messi personally. Defenders struggle massively against him. He’s got the skills that Zola possessed at the Bridge and the way he eases past opponents is sensational.

5 – If you could have one football player, past or present, live in your spare room who would it be and why?
Alan Shearer. Without sucking up to you Toon fans he was a world class striker and he comes across as a really really nice guy. Some of the goals he scored in the black and white shirt were brilliant. Fernando Torres esque! Well… Gary Neville as well simply because when we had lunch, I reckon I could talk to him for hours on end. A proper nice guy who knows his stuff.

6 – Do you need to do any business in January? If so, who would you like to sign?
Erm possibly a winger. Marco Reus would be class even though he’s injured but to bring him in for the future seasons would make us one of the most feared attacking line ups in the world if it isn’t already! Maybe a central defender but tbh I think we’re fine.

7 – If your club was a biscuit, what biscuit would it be? And why would it be that biscuit?
Chocolate digestive. Because everyone loves us really haha.

8 – Should Loïc Rémy get a bigger role in your side considering his impact when he has played?
I think he’s a top top player. I love Didier and he has made an impact in some games but I’d prefer to give Remy more game time. Keep him happy and in form and he can be lethal. His movement is world class and he has a great shot on him.

9 – What are your thoughts on Newcastle United as an outsider?
Well… you bar stewards are a problem when we play you at your place! No idea what it is but we just don’t turn up! You’ve had a limited amount of good games this season. What a shock that one of those was against us! I think there is a problem in the way that the problem is Ashley. He’s in it for the money imo and that’s the main thing though he played a blinder selling the naming rights of your ground, only to then make the fans vaguely happy again by selling the rights again but back to St James’ Park! You’re a club which hasn’t performed too well of late but has potential.

10 – Scoreline prediction?
Sorry to say but we’re quite good against you at home… 3-1 to Chelsea

I went to the FoxesTalk forum and asked the questions, the response was decent once again. The questions were:

1 – What are your hopes for the FA Cup?
2 – Where do you think you need to look at in the transfer market?
3 – Do you back Pearson? Or should he be replaced before it gets too late?
4 – Are you confident about staying up this season?
5 – You won the Championship with over 100 points last season, 9 clear of your nearest rivals, why do think you’ve struggled to make the step up to the Premier League?
6 – If your club was a biscuit, what would it be? Why?
7 – Was Cambiasso a good signing?
8 – Does setting low ticket prices show that Pearson intends to rest most of your first team?
9 – What’s happened to Ulloa? At the start of the season everything he touched seemed to turn to gold then suddenly he just stopped scoring for months.
10 – Scoreline prediction?

Unabomber

1 – What are your hopes for the FA Cup?
I think it is a good cup but people need to take it more seriously.

2 – Where do you think you need to look at in the transfer market?
The striker and defender section

3 – Do you back Pearson? Or should he be replaced before it gets too late?
Back him? I love him

4 – Are you confident about staying up this season?
Yeah I think we will and it will be really great.

5 – You won the Championship with over 100 points last season, 9 clear of your nearest rivals, why do think you’ve struggled to make the step up to the Premier League?
Bad business, needed a proven cb and striker. Shit loads of bad luck too tbf.

6 – If your club was a biscuit, what would it be? Why?
A macaron probably as we are sweet, colourful and a delight.

7 – Was Cambiasso a good signing?
Oh yes, I dread to think where we would be without our bald eagle.

8 – Does setting low ticket prices show that Pearson intends to rest most of your first team?
Nah just being nice to the fans, not that low anyway.

9 – What’s happened to Ulloa? At the start of the season everything he touched seemed to turn to gold then suddenly he just stopped scoring for months.
Had like 2 chances since, not creating enough for the fella.

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